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©BEmSGHT DEPOSm, 



RAINBOWS 



ON 



WAR CLOUDS 



BY 



JAMES L. HUGHES 



AUTHOR OF "SONGS OF GLAI>NBSS," 
"STORIES AND MtRSINGS," ETC. 



Syracuse:, n. y. 
c. w. barde;e:n 



v^ 






Gopyright, 1919 by C. W. Bardeea 






-EB 20 !9I9 
'aA511648 



FOREWORD 

These poems are published with the hope that they may 
help to heal sorrowing hearts and aid in the spread of true 
ideals regarding love, and sacrifice, and duty, and universal 
brotherhood. 

It is hoped, too, that they may increase the respect and 
deepen the sympathy of true men and women for the brave 
soldiers and sailors who are so nobly fighting for freedom, 
justice, righteousness, home, and Christian civilization. 

James L. Hughes 

Toronto, Canada 



CONTENTS 

Bright Rainbows 9 

Cheri-o 10 

The Truly Unselfish Mother's Answer 11 

"Old Glory" and "The Union Jack" 13 

A Noble Mother 14 

Afraid to Tell His Mother 15 

Leave Them to Rest 15 

O Heroes, Fallen Heroes 18 

I've Got Mine 19 

Heroism and Tenderness 21 

The "Last Post" 23 

Brotherhood 25 

Thank God for Fearless Fathers 26 

Captain Smith, V. C 27 

Lieutenant Brown 29 

Private Jones 24 

"War Ended My Religion" 36 

"You Cannot Pass" 38 

The First Americans to Die 39 

In Locre 40 

At Bay 41 

"Over the Top" 42 

An English Volunteer 43 

Grandfather's Just Pride 45 

Tommy Atkins, Jack Canuck and Sammy 48 

Veterans, Blue and Gray 56 

Christ on the Ruined Wall in Ypres 51 

Re-discovering Christ 52 

When Our Boys Come Back 53 

M]ade Selfish by Love 55 

vii 



Christ-like Men 58 

More Degrading Than War 60 

Christ's Question 64 

Unselfish Soldiers 65 

The Chaplain at Vimy Ridge 66 

The Old German Bible 68 

Saved 69 

The Palsied Conscience of the Conscientious Objector 71 

Why We're Fighting 72 

The Old British Veteran 73 

A True Hero 75 

"You're Drafted" 76 

Sabbath Services 77 

Has Christianity Failed? 78 

The Ghosts of 1776 * 80 

"My Own" Country 82 

The Platitudinous Pacifists 83 

A Weak Apology 87 

Frenzied Freedom 88 

A Loyal German 90 

A Disloyal German 91 

Life's Vital Power 93 

Tell Their Great Deeds 94 

Love and Hate 96 

Life and Death 98 

Mystery and Glory 98 

Comrade Fathers of Heroic Sons 99 

Canada to the United States 100 

Fate at the Front 101 

His Unfinished Story 103 

Chester 104 

Our Memories 105 

My Valiant Son 106 

Dead! 107 

To My Only Son 108 

Sorrow and Joy 110 

His Last Letter Ill 

Mars and Venus 112 

viii 



RAINBOWS ON WAR CLOUDS 
BRIGHT RAINBOWS 

Proudly went our sons to battle 

While the dew was on life's flowers; 

While the rising sun of morning 
Was awaking vital powers. 

Though they come no more to greet us, 
Those young hero sons of ours, 

Rare and radiant was the beauty 
Of their early morning flowers. 

And the perfume of their blooming 
In its sweetness will remain. 

Giving life a richer glory; 
Helping to relieve our pain. 

Though our hearts be sad, and tearful 
Be our eyes in coming years. 

Memory will see bright rainbows 
On the cloud mist of our tears. 



CHEERI-0 

He remained at his post to the end 
While the Huns swept past 

And he phoned to headquarters the news; 
He was found at last; 

Then he said, "They are now very near, 

Cheeri-o, I will die with a cheer. 



J J 



Then he called his great message again, 

*' Cheeri-o, good bye. 
In a moment I know I must go 

To my home on high; 
But when freedom and right are at stake, 
Cheeri-o, I will die for their sake." 

(A true story that led to the adoption of Cheeri-o, 
as a battle cry of the Allies, when going "Over the 
Top.") 



10 



THE TRULY UNSELFISH MOTHER'S ANSWER 

God gave my son in trust to me. 
Christ died for him, so he should be 
A man for Christ. He is his own, 
And God's and man's; not mine alone, 
He was not mine to ''give". He gave 
Himself that he might help to save 
All that a Christian should revere, 
All that enlightened men hold dear. 

''To feed the guns!" Oh, torpid soul! 
Awake and see life as a whole. 
When freedom, honor, justice, right, 
Were threatened by the despot's might. 
With heart aflame and soul alight 
He bravely went for God to fight 
Against base savages whose pride 
The laws of God and man defied; 
Who slew the mother and her child; 
Who maidens pure and sweet defiled. 
He did not go "to feed the guns". 
He went to save from ruthless Huns 
His home and country, and to be 
A guardian of democracy. 
"What if he does not come?" you say. 
Ah, well! My sky would be more gray. 
But through the clouds the sun would shine, 
And vital memories be mine. 
God's test of manhood is, I know. 
Not "will he come?" but did he go? 
My son well knew that he might die, 
And yet he went with purpose high 
To fight for peace, and overthrow 

11 



The plans of Christ's relentless foe. 

He dreaded not the battlefield; 

He went to make fierce vandals yield. 

If he comes not again to me 

I shall be sad; but not that he 

Went like a man — a hero true — 

His part unselfishly to do. 

My heart will feel exultant pride 

That for humanity he died. 

''Forgotten grave!" This selfish plea 
Awakes no deep response in me; 
For though his grave I may not see, 
My boy will ne'er forgotten be. 
My real son can never die; 
'Tis but his body that may lie 
In foreign land, and I shall keep 
Remembrance fond forever deep 
Within my heart of my true son, 
Because of triumphs that he won. 
It matters not where anyone 
May lie and sleep, when work is done. 
It matters not where some men live. 
If my dear son his life must give 
Hosannas I will sing for him. 
E'en though my eyes with tears be dim. 
And when the war is over, when 
His gallant comrades come again, 
I'll cheer them as they're marching by, 
Rejoicing that they did not die. 
And when his vacant place I see. 
My heart will bound with joy that he 
Was mine so long — my fair young son — 
And cheer for him whose work is done. 



12 



"OLD GLORY" AND ''THE UNION JACK" 

''Old Glory" has new glory now. 

Its message to the truly free 
Is universal, unconfined 

By boundaries of land or sea. 

Beside the flags of other lands 
That love democracy and right, 

Americans "Old Glory" bear 

To break the power of despot might. 

Americans will proudly sing 

"My country" — land of freemen still. 
But higher vision of "our world" 

Will give their hearts a deeper thrill. 

Mankind should sing of "home, sweet home," 
Of country, and of empire, too. 

But brotherhood will bring new light, 
And wider, clearer, truer view. 

And all will for "our world" rejoice 
In songs of gladness for the day, 

When trustful nations will unite, 
And selfish barriers burn away. 

"Old Glory" and the Union Jack 

Have waved good will a hundred years 

And smiled across our border land. 

Hats off to them, and rousing cheers! 

And they will float in harmony 
Through all the ages yet to be; 

And help to make the whole wide world 
Join in fraternal unity. 



13 



A NOBLE MOTHER 

I went to tell his mother 
Her oldest son was dead, 

Killed by a shell. ''My hero, 
My brave, true son," she said; 

''I'll hang a purple ribbon 

Upon his flag, to tell 
He loved his country's ensign, 

And for it fighting fell. 

"Now, Bobby, you must go, dear, 
To take your brother's place, 

I know your country's honor 
You never will disgrace." 

I went again to tell her 

That Bobby, too, was dead. 

"I'll hang another ribbon 
Upon the flag," she said. 

"And Tom will do his duty, 
In freedom's cause he'll fight; 

My sons are men who fear not 
To die for God and right." 

0, mothers! Noble mothers! 

How true your love ! How deep ! 
Whose peerless hearts are hopeful, 

While for your sons you weep; 
Who hang the purple ribbons 

For those who are asleep. 

14 



AFRAID TO TELL HIS MOTHER 

When war began, Jim's father 

And mother were away; 
He telegraphed his father 

At noon the second day. 

His father got the message, 
And this is what he read : — 

''I have enlisted, father." 
Then to himself he said: 

^'I'm glad, but 0, his mother! 

She will not let him go. 
'Twould fill her heart with sorrow, 

To lose her boy, I know." 

For two long days his secret 

He did not dare to tell. 
Until his wife said kindly, 

''Dear John, you are not well." 

And then he told the message, 

And waited still in dread. 
''Of course you sent an answer," 

Said she. "No, dear," he said. 

"I could not send an answer 

Until I first told you, 
I was afraid to tell you." 

"Dear John," she said, "I knew 

"You had some cause to worry 
Which seemed too hard to bear; 

You should have told me sooner, 
That I with you might share 

15 



''The sacred joy of knowing 

We have so true a son, 
"Who did his duty bravely. 

What else could he have done? 

''You should have answered promptly; 

It was not fair to Jim; 
Now let me have the message, 

And I will answer him." 

"Dear Jim," she wrote, "I'm happy 
To learn you are so true; 

I'm proud to be the mother 
Of such a son as you." 



16 



LEAVE THEM TO REST 

Dead they lie — ten of them 

There in one grave. 
Well they fought ! Heroes all ; 

Noble and brave. 

One cause they battled for — 

Freedom and right; 
One God they worshipped, as 

Each saw the light. 

Protestants — Catholics 

Fought their last fight; 

Great was their victory 
There on the height. 

Protestant — Catholic 

Chaplains are there; 
In the last services 

Each has a share. 

God hears them — both of them- 

There as they pray. 
God bless them — both of them— 

Marching away. 

Over the graves let us 

Sound the last post; 
They were true noblemen 

Part of God's host. 

Sons of light — all of them — 

Each did his best. 
Cheer for them! Honor them! 

Leave them to rest. 



17 



0, HEROES, FEARLESS HEROES! 

*'Wake up your section, sergeant, 

I need a volunteer," 
The colonel said, ''for duty 

That will be most severe." 

Ten men were soundly sleeping 
There in the trench, for they 

Had fought for days most bravely, 
Holding the Huns at bay. 

They quickly rose. The colonel 
Said in a solemn tone, 

*'I have a work of danger. 
Who dares to go alone?" 

Then in an instant, proudly 
Each took one step ahead — 

The blood of Britons ever 

Is warm, and rich, and red — 

And stood awaiting orders 

In readiness, and so 
"The sergeant said, ''Well, colonel 

You see 111 have to go." 

"For, if I one selected, 

The others would be mad; 

Lie down and sleep, brave fellows, 
I'll go, sir, and be glad." 

18 



He did the needed service 
Amid the bursting shell, 

And safely reached the trenches 
Back from the German hell. 

O, heroes ! fearless heroes ! 

gallant, noble men ! 
When freedom needs your service, 

You're ever ready then. 



I'VE GOT MINE 

When a comrade falls on the battlefield 
In the charge up the fire-swept hill; 

And you stop a moment to give him help; 
And he says, "I've got mine — old Bill"; 

Then you drop your rifle, and kneel by him, 
And you see that the end has come; 

And you look around and no chaplain see 
So you pray with your dying chum. 

0, your prayer is short, but so full of love. 
And you add to your words your tears. 

Till your comrade smiles and in whisper low 
He says, "Bill, the dear Father hears." 

19 



Then he takes your hand, and he looks away 

To a village across the sea, 
And he says, "Dear Bill, I've a letter here 

For the sweetheart I'll never see. 

"And another, too, for my mother. Bill, 

They will miss me, and yet I know 
They will not forget, but will love me still. 

And be proud that I dared to go." 

Then his eyes grow dim and his handclasp weak, 
As he whispers a last "good bye," 

And he kisses his cross; and you say, "Dear God, 
It is blessed for Christ to die." 

And "0, dear Pat! I shall miss you, lad, 
Though in creed we were . far apart ; 

You were God's true man." Then you climb the hill 
With a hope in your deepest heart 

That the man-made dross may be burned away 

From religion, that men may be 
From all narrow creeds and base bigotry 

By the light of Christ's truth set free. 



20 



HEROISM AND TENDERNESS 

Yes! Yesterday he bravely won 

Y. C; 
He's playing with a child today 

I see. 

The poor child's heart with sorrow deep 

Was filled 
When by a shell her mother dear 

Was killed. 

He took her to his tent last night 

To sleep, 
And says, if no one comes for her 

He'll keep 

Her gladly, and will take her home, 

When he 
Goes to the King next week to get 

Y. C. 

Brave as a lion yesterday; 

Today 
He is as gentle as a lamb 

At play. 

Great are the men of tenderness 

Who fight 
So gallantly for liberty 

And right. 

21 



THE LAST POST 

Within the grand cathedral 

I heard the bagpipes play 
Grief's wild lament — "Lochaber" — 

That sad November day. 
I heard the ''Last Post" sounding 

Death's most pathetic cry, 
Till souls sobbed out their sorrow 

For those who dared to die. 

The service was for others 

Whose sorrow I could share ; 
Whose souls were thrilled by music, 

And calmed by hopeful prayer; 
Whose hearts re-echoed gladly 

The sermon's lofty tone; 
They loved their heroes fondly, 

I fondly loved my own. 

Within the grand cathedral 

I sat that sacred day. 
But in a Flanders churchyard 

My heart was far away 
In Locre, where his comrades 

Had laid my gallant son, 
And there I heard the bugles 

Tell that his work was done. 



22 



From that old village churchyard 

Yonder across the sea 
His comrades moaned their message 

Upon the breeze to me ; 
And always in November 

As leaves float down to rest, 
I'll hear the ''Last Post" sounding 

Above my dear son's breast. 

But I will listen proudly 

In May time, when the breeze 
Brings me the birds' sweet joy-songs 

Out of the lilac trees 
Beside his grave at daybreak. 

My faith triumphant then 
Will hear God's grand reveille 

For all His noble men. 

Suggested by a memorial service in St. Paul's, 
Toronto, conducted by the Very Eev. Archdeacon Cody 
at the unveiling of tablets in honor of two young 
Toronto officers killed in France. 



2.3 



BROTHERHOOD 

Upon the Western battle front 
Two men for freedom fight; 

And side by side they struggle on 
For justice and for right. 

One is a Roman Catholic 

With simple faith and clear, 

The other is a Protestant 

To whom all truth is dear. 

Each trusts his neighbor perfectly, 
Each is the other's friend; 

And day by day, and night by night, 
Their songs together blend. 

Their thoughts about life's basic facts 

In harmony agree, 
Both to the same great Father pray 

In hopeful unity. 

They share each other's joys, and share 
Each other's sorrows, too. 

They have been tested, and each found 
The other brave and true. 

Why should God's altar separate? 

Why should religion break 
The love bonds joining human souls? 
Can true religion make 
24 



Men love each other less ? 0, No ! 

The brotherhood of man 
In loving service fellowship 

Is Christ's divinest plan. 

Fight on together for the right. 

Self-sacrificing men 
United in a sacred cause 

Can never fight again. 

For God to men who work for him 
Will vital love reveal, 

Although they do not, when they pray 
At the same altar kneel. 



25 



THANK GOD FOR FEARLESS FATHERS 

Thank God for fathers who were brave, 

Not cowards base, 
Men who were true, who feared no wrong, 

But face to face 
Grasped evil with heroic grip. 
Fought it, and won the mastership. 

Thank God for sons of manly men 

Who fear no foe; 
Who have a vital faith in God, 

And dare to go, 
Where an unblemished conscience leads, 
To do for duty fearless deeds. 

God pity him who is so base 

He will not see 
His duty to his home, his God 

And Liberty; 
Whose self-degraded conscience finds 
Excuses scorned by noble minds. 

God pity the ignoble sons 

Of fathers brave. 
Who fear to meet the despot foe 

Freedom to save ; 
Who claim their country's rights to share. 
But to defend them will not dare. 



26 



CAPTAIN SMITH, V. 0. 

Who is that hero who had the cross 

Pinned on his breast today? 
He was an outcast, when war began; 

*' Drank like a fish" — they say. 

Entered the army, and some with sneers 

Said he would useless be; 
Others objected to have their sons 

Fighting with such as he. 

But in his soul was God's image still 

Ready to grow in power. 
War was its Springtime, and it burst forth 

Into life's perfect flower. 

He was ''Bill Smith", in his old home town 

Hopeless, unkindled, then, 
Bringing but shame to his mother's heart, 

Shunned by his fellowmen. 

''Past all believing!" you dare to say, 

"Miracle great!" 0, No! 
He's an awakened and vital soul 

Starting towards God to grow. 

Tested in flame of the world's fierce War 

Dross has been burned away; 
He is revealed as a noble man. 

Captain he is today. 

27 



Never before had his heart been stirred 

Deeply by duty's call, 
But, when he heard it, he answered, ''Here! 

Bravely he offered all. 

Fighting for liberty, justice, truth; 

Fighting for home and right. 
All that was best in his life awoke; 

Weakness was changed to might. 

''Valorous, chivalrous, noble, brave; 

Hero ! ' ' his comrades say. 
Worthy was he of the cross the King 

Pinned on hig breast today. 



J J 



28 



LIEUTENANT BROWN 

Lieutenant Brown was going home, 

He had been granted leave; 
He'd done his duty grandly, but 

He would no praise receive. 

**'Twas all in the day's work," he said, 
''You were all brave and true; 

I found it easy to be bold 

With comrades such as you." 

''I'll tell your friends in Canada 

How fearlessly you fight; 
Especially your sweethearts, boys; 

I go tomorrow night." 

And then we said, "A dinner, Brown, 

We'll give before you go. 
Tomorrow night; the high esteem 

We hold you in to show." 

We fought the Huns next day, and won 

A victory, but ! 
Brave Brown was lost, and when we dined. 

Our hearts were full of woe. 

As Brown's own Captain, I proposed, 

"Here's to Brown's memory; 
Because we knew him, each of us 

Will ever better be." 

29 



Next night I sat alone, and thought 

Of Brown's great bravery, 
When part of him crept down the trench, 

And slowly said to me, 



a 



I missed the dinner, Cap, tonight, 
0, yes! I know I'm late; 
I slept awhile, and coming back 
I had to find a gate 

*' Between the barbed entanglements 

Before the trench we took; 
One leg, one arm, I had to creep; 

One eye I had to look. 

''They saw me crawl on 'no man's land', 

And fired, but I lay still. 
Pretending death, until the moon 

Had set behind the hill. 

"But I am very hungry. Cap, 

And very thirsty, too; 
Please bring me something soon, 'twill be 
So — kind — and — good — of — ^you. ' ' 

He fainted then, I ran for help, 

I brought him nourishment, 
I gave him wine to strengthen him. 

And for the surgeon sent. 



30 



When consciousness returned, I said 
''"We thought you had 'gone west', 

But you will be all right again, 

Now that your wounds are dressed/' 

"Not quite all right," he smiling said, 

"But what is left of me 
Will prove to you that I am still 

The friend I used to be." 

We made it clear to him that he 
Lay in the trench two days. 

And that last night we toasted him 
In words of highest praise. 

"I must have been unconscious then 
For thirty hours," he said, 

" 'Twas kind of you to toast me, boys, 
I'm glad I was not dead. 



(C 



Another dinner I will give 
And toast you ere I go 
Back to my dear Toronto home, 
And the kind friends I know." 

When all the other men had gone, 

He said, "I'll grateful be. 
If you will send a cablegram 
- To my old dad for me. 



31 



"Just say that I am wounded, 
But that my wound is slight, 

For the official message might 
Give my home folks a fright.'' 

And then he smiled and blushed, and said, 
' ' 0, Cap ! please write for me 

A letter to my sweetheart, dear, 
And tell her I will be 

*' Quite well again, and will come home 

To see her bye and bye; 
And that to date I've only lost 

One leg, one arm, one eye ; 

"That I can get a fine glass eye, 

A new leg, and new arm. 
And that I hope my new make up 

Will still have power to charm. 

"Say, too, I am not quite all here, 

But what is left loves you ; 
I think one arm will fold you, dear. 

Almost as well as two." 

He lay face down for two long months. 

I went each week to see 
How he got on. Each time I went. 

He joked and laughed with me. 



32 



I wrote his letters, and they still 
Were full of hearty cheer, 

E'en when his dreadful agony 
Forced an unwilling tear. 

0, noble Jack ! Upon the field 
You were a hero true; 

Unselfish Jack ! In hospital 
You were a hero, too. 

You are a type of thousands, who 
In fearlessness abound; 
Who in their service for the right, 
A vital faith have found. 



33 



PRIVATE JONES 

He seemed hopelessly, utterly bad; 

He was lazy and slouehy, too ; 
And lie could not be trusted to do 

Anything that he ought to do. 

When we called him the lowest of names 
He would snarl like a dog, and swear; 

"When we told him to better his ways, 
He would never appear to care. 

But one day, when the ** drum-fire'' was on, 
And the field was torn up with shell; 

Private Jones went to rescue our ''Cap", 
Where he lay in the fiercest hell. 

For the Germans had broken his leg. 
And our Captain in anguish lay. 

But ''Bad Jones" dared the fire, and he brought 
Our Captain dear safe away. 

Then we gathered Jones into our arms. 
And we hugged him and tried to tell. 

How we loved him, and said he was white ; 
He just smiled, as he said, "0, hell! 

"Do you think I could see the old Cap 
Lying there on the field to die? 

No ! I said to myself — Bad Bill Jones, 
It is up to you, Bill, to try. 

34 



^'And the smile on the Captain's face, 
And the things that he said to me, 

Made me vow to the Lord in my heart. 
Private Jones will a new man be. 

**And I thank yon all, boys, for the way 
You have treated me here, and now; 

If you stand squarely by me I know 
I can live up to that great vow." 

And we promised that we would be square 
And would proudly true friendship show. 

Well, he kept the great vow that he made. 
And his soul-shine began to glow. 

His true soul had been dormant for years 

But its power is vital now, 
It awoke when he did his brave deed. 

So he registered then his vow. 

Both his heart and his clothes are now clean, 
For there is not a man so bad. 

That he has not a soul light within 

We may kindle, and make him glad. 



35 



''WAR ENDED MY RELIGION" 

I asked a man to go to church 

"With me one day; 
''War ended my religion, sir, 

No more I pray. 

*'I knew that Christ had surely failed, 

"When war began. 
He taught me peace, and bade me love 

My fellowman." 

''He taught you, too,'' I said, "to fight 

For truth and right; 
For justice, honor, freedom, 'gainst 

Despotic might. 

"He taught you they are better far 

Than peace with wrong. 
No lasting peace can come until 

Christ's men are strong. 

"The war was caused by ruthless Huns 

Who Christ deny; 
And who the power of Christian men 

With scorn defy. 

"Had men not cared for honesty 

By Christ's laws taught. 
Nor for the sanctities of life. 

As true men ought, 

36 



*'We might have had a German peace, 

When war first came ; — 
An ignominious peace — a peace 

Of conscious shame; 

*'A peace by which the Germans ruled 

The whole world o'er; 
By which the truest things of life, 

Were ours no more; 

''A peace by which democracy 

And hope were lost, 
But Christian men rejected peace 

At such a cost; 

'And with a vital faith in God, 
And hearts alight, 
Unselfishly for love of Christ 
Entered the fight. 

*'You speak of your religion, sir. 

What kind had you ? 
Its loss should not affect you much — 

It was not true. 

**I hope you may discover Christ 

Who came that we 
Might have a more abundant life; 

Then you may see 

''Essential truth, Christ's vital truth 

That makes men free; 

Then, sir, a faithless pessimist 

You will not be." 

37 



''YOU CANNOT PASS" 

''Onward to Paris," the tyrant said, 
''France must be humbled low." 

"You cannot pass," said the gallant French, 
"Backward your hosts must go." 

Onward in pride came the German hordes, 

Boastful in ruthless might; 
"You cannot pass," said the noble French, 

"France will uphold the right." 

Fiercely for months did the dastard Huns 

Struggle to reach their goal; 
"You must not pass," said the fearless French^ 

"France has regained her soul." 

Recklessly, ceaselessly came the foe; 

Calmly the French replied, 
"You must not pass o'er the Verdun hills; 

Vain is your boastful pride. 

'Honor, and justice, and home, and truth. 

We will defend from you; 
You shall not pass; in her testing hour 

France will be strong and true. 

"Back you must go," said the peerless French, 

Free shall our children be; 
You shall not pass; we are here to guard 

Their sacred liberty." 

Dauntlessly, brilliantly fought the French; 

Backward the Huns they hurled; 
They did not pass, for the brave French stood 

Firm for a sunlit world. 



38 



THE FIRST AMERICANS TO DIE 

Sons of America, fearless and free, 

Four of them lie side by side in one grave; 

First of her heroes to die there in France; 

Fighting for liberty their lives they gave. 

Bravely they battled, and dauntlessly died. 

Honored the earth is that lies on each breast; 

"Weeping, but proud of their valorous dead 
Comrades have tenderly laid them to rest. 

Lovingly o'er them the 'tricolor" waves 

Close to ''Old Glory" to say to the world, 

*'Till we have triumphed o'er despotic might. 
We fly together for freedom unfurled." 

Ended the service — a leader of France 

Said, ''In the name of my country I give 

Honor and thanks to these heroes who died 
Fighting so bravely that justice may live." 

"Farewell true noblemen. Your death will bind 
Your land and my land forever for right; 

We by your grave looking up to God's sky. 
Pledge that in brotherhood we will unite. 

"Sound the 'Last Post.' They will hear o'er the sea. 
And its sad message o'er valley and hill 

Will wake men's souls, and they'll prove to the world 
That in America freemen live still." 

39 



IN LOCRE 

Lover of liberty answering duty 

Proudly he went, and his sacrifice made; 
Killed there in Kemmel beside the green mountain, 

Yonder in Locre his body was laid. 

Long it has lain there beneath the old lilacs ; 

There by the side of the church is his grave; 
Long have we mourned him, yet proudly remembered 

That he went bravely true freedom to save. 

Now there in Locre the fierce battle rages; 

Day after day the wild struggle goes on ; 
Hand to hand fighting from dawn light to eve glow; 

Shrieking of shell fire from eve glow to dawn. 

Six times has Locre been lost and retaken. 

Three times by us and three times by our foes; 

Over his grave by the church side they struggle. 
But he sleeps on in his well earned repose. 

God of battles! For Thee our brave heroes 
Nobly have fought and so bravely have died; 

"Wake all the nations, reveal the great visions 
Taught by the Lowly One men crucified. 



40 



AT BAY 

Hordes of Huns savagely 

Rushed to the fray; 
Lovers of liberty 

Held them at bay. 

British, Americans, 

Frenchmen were they. 
Who on the "Western front" 

Held them at bay. 

Gloriously, gallantly 

Day after day 
God's splendid noblemen 

Held them at bay. 

"Come," said they, fearlessly, 

"We're here to stay; 
Ready to die for right 

We stand at bay. 

"Despots can never drive 

Freemen away; 
Justice and right must live; 

We stand at bay." 

So the unconquered stood 

Intrepidly, 
Hurling the fierce Huns back ; 

Nobly at bay. 

41 



Chivalrous, valorous, 

Resolute, they 
*^ Backs to the wall" stood there 

Dauntless at bay. 

Heroes all! Honor them! 

For them we pray; 
God bless them, and keep them 

Safe there at bay. 



''OVER THE TOP" 

0, Molly; How I long to see you smile. 
And stand with you upon our hill awhile. 

My heart is often there at eve with you 

To let you hear its love-beat say, "I'm true." 

And hear you sweetly answer, "Dear I know," 
And with you watch the western's sky's red glow. 

0, Molly darling, at the dawn of light 
Tomorrow, we go "O'er the top" to fight. 

And, as we go, I'll think of you, my own. 
And in the charge I will not be alone. 

I will be conscious, dear, of God and you. 
And fearlessly my duty then I'll do. 

42 



AN ENGLISH VOLUNTEER 

A man of forty-five came in, 

And said, ''May I enlist?" 
His eyes were red, and still he tried 

To wipe away tear mist. 

''It's cMlly, sir, today," he said, 
"It makes my old eyes drip; 
I've 'ad a letter, sir, from 'ome. 
My wife," — ^he bit his lip — 

"My wife writes, you must fight the 'uns 

We've 'ad an air raid 'ere, 
And your poor mother 'as been killed"; 
Again he dropped a tear. 

"That 'orrid wind! it makes 'em leak. 
I came out to the States 
To make a 'ome for wife; but now 
She says that all my mates 

"At 'ome in England have gone off 

The blooming 'uns to fight. 
And 'elp to save the world, she says, 
For freedom, 'ome, and right." 

"She says, 'The Kiddies, Jack, and I 
Will be all right, you know. 
For I am strong, and I will work, 
So, Jack, you'll 'ave to go. 

43 



** 'They killed your mother, Jack, those 'uns, 

I can't be 'appy. Jack, 
Until you wear the uniform; 
So I am going back. 

''The wife is right, I must enlist, 
I 'ope you'll pass me, too, 
I think you'll find my body strong; 
I know my 'art is true. 

"For mother dear, and motherland; 

For wife and kiddies too, 
I'll go across the briny, and 
My duty I will do. 

"And, when the war is over, sir, 

I will come back again. 
And bring the wife and kiddies too 
To live 'ere with me then. 

"I love the grand old 'Union Jack,' 

I love 'Old Glory,' too; 
I know those flags forevermore 
Will be to freedom true." 

(In a recruiting office in the United States) 



44 



GRANDFATHER'S JUST PRIDE 

0, yes ! It was my grandson, 

It was his second flight 
In France, and he was flying 

High in the bright sunlight. 

When suddenly three Germans 

Dropped from the clouds, but he 

Flew at them gallant hearted 
And fought the German three. 

Down went the first bright flaming, 

Down went the second, too ; 
But then a German bullet 

His manly breast pierced through. 

He fainted, and his trusted plane 
Fell headlong towards the ground. 

The rapid fall aroused him; 
He woke and looked around. 

He saw the British trenches; 

He got control again. 
And glided till he landed 

Behind the lines, and then 

His brave, true life seemed ended ; 

Insensible he lay. 
Till stretcher bearers found him, 

And carried him away. 

45 



He did not die. He's living 
In Iowa with me. 
He's getting stronger quickly, 
And says lie soon will be 

Quite ready to go flying 
Again beyond the sea, 

To do his chosen duty 

To help to make men free. 

0, yes! of course I'm proud, sir, 
Mine was a fighting racej 

I have no fear my grandson 
Will ever bring disgrace 

To either home or country, 
Or to the Allied cause; 

He'll bravely fight for justice. 
For truth and righteous laws. 



46 



WELL DONE, FRED 

I hear that you go soon to France, 

Fred's father, my old comrade, said; 

I wish you'd visit my boy's grave, 

And standing there say, ''Well done, Fred." 

I promised him. I found the grave. 

And on it tenderly I shed 
A loving tear, and with heart full 

Of sympathy said, "Well done, Fred." 

Unselfishly you left your home 

By consciousness of duty led; 
You nobly fought in freedom's cause 

And earned the tribute — ''Well done, Fred.' 

For liberty you died — ^nay, lived. 

And still will live — you are not dead. 

Around me now I seem to hear 

The angels singing, "Well done, Fred." 

I look away beyond the clouds 

That sail in glory o'er my head. 

And on the western wind I hear 

His homeland message — "Well done, Fred." 



47 



TOMMY ATKINS, JACK CANUCK, AND SAMMY 

Tom and Jack met Sam in France, 

And welcomed him one day; 
They grasped his hand, and gripped it hard, 

And cheered — "Hooray! Hooray! 

"We've waited for you, Sam," they said, 
"We're glad to see you here; 

We're freedom's sons of one old stock. 
So let us all three cheer." 

And cheer they did, and then said Tom, 
"We've had some scraps of yore. 

But bygones long are bygones, 
Our scrapping days are o'er. 

"And Britons shake your honest hand. 

And welcome you with joy. 
We're glad to fight till freedom wins. 

Brave Sam, with you old boy." 

Said Jack, "Dear cousin, we have had 

Misunderstandings, too, 
But for a hundred years, and more 

"We've lived in peace with you. 

"And as we fight for home and right 

Against the ruthless foe, 
Our hearts together bound by love, 

Will ever closer grow." 

48 



Then Sammy said, ''I thank you both, 

I'm with you till we win; 
I'm proud to claim you as my friends, 

For we are surely kin. 

*'One God we love, one faith we hold. 

One freedom we defend; 
With our great heritage of pluck 

We'll conquer in the end. 

Then hand in hand in sacred tones 

They pledged fidelity. 
And said, ''Through all the coming years 

True brothers we will be." 



49 



VETERANS BLUE AND GRAY 

They stood together on the street, 

Their old hearts beating fast, 
And watched the stalwart soldier boys 

So proudly marching past. 

Their memories recalled the day 

Near sixty years ago, 
When they had marched through cheering crowds 

To meet an unknown foe. 



n 

i ( 



I went when Lincoln called," said one, 

To make my country free." 
I went to fight for freedom, too," 
The other said, ''with Lee." 

*'Men never fought more bravely than 
The blue and gray did then," 

Said they, ''Their sons in freedom's cause 
Will prove that they are men. 

"For comrades now undauntedly 

Our boys in freedom's light 
Go forth for God and liberty 

For justice, home and right. 

"And North and South — one nation now — 

With all true men unite 
To save democracy, and teach 

Mankind no more to fight; 

"That all the earth may understand 

Christ's all embracing plan, 
And make the dream of ages true; — 

The brotherhood of man." 

50 



CHRIST ON THE RUINED WALL IN YPRES 

There stood the fine cathedral 

Beside the grand Cloth Hall 
Now it is dust and ashes, 

But one small bit of wall 
Is still unharmed, and on it 

Christ's statue stands alone; 
His calm, true face still glowing 

With love for all His own. 

The Prussians did not spare it 

A due respect to show. 
For they despise Christ's teaching, 

And aim to overthrow 
His basis of true freedom, 

His law of righteousness; 
And ridicule the lessons 

He taught, mankind to bless. 

Each soul may give its answer, 

But there it stands today. 
And from their homes in cellars 

The Belgians come to pray 
Before it. See one kneeling 
^ A little girl, there now; 
Down on the dust and ashes 

She kneels to make her vow. 

And prays for faith to strengthen. 

And for the soldiers true, 
That they may have Christ's guidance 

In all they try to do. 
Dare any sneer or mock her? 

Dare any one deny 
That simple faith has taught her 

She must on Christ rely? 



51 



RE-DISCOVERING CHRIST 

Efficiency the German God 

Began to rule mankind; 
Foul selfishness dwarfed human souls 

And made men's spirits blind. 

The love of base material things 
Destroyed the vital power, 

Of higher, clearer vision, till 
The re-awaking hour. 

When robber Huns contemptuously 
Christ's basic truths denied, 

And with imperilous insolence 
The Christian world defied. 

But Christians nations, unified 
For freedom, honor, right. 

Arose with Christian chivalry 
To check the rule of might. - 

And men have re-discovered Christ, 
And learned to see the good 

In all mankind, and love the law 
Of human brotherhood. 

And we will prove that we can be 

Efficient Christians, when 
The war is won — ^not heathens base — 
And love our fellowmen. 



52 



WHEN OUR BOYS COME BACK 

''War brutalizes, and our boys, 

When they come back again 
Will all have lost their kindliness. 

And changed to brutal men. 

''War makes men hard and selfish, 

Our boys of gentleness 
Will come with ruthless hearts and be 

Ruled by base selfishness." 

0, no ! Our boys will be more true 

More tender and sincere, 
More conscious of their brothers' rights 

With vision true and clear. 

They fight not for themselves. They fight 

To make men truly free; 
They fight for babes and womanhood; 

They cannot selfish be. 

They fight to make the innocent 

From evil more secure ; 
Their fight against impurity 

Will make their lives more pure. 

The boys who dare the rain of fire 

Their dying chums to bless, 
Will come with hearts aflame with God 

And deeper tenderness. 

53 



The boys who rarely went to church, 

But, as their comrades die, 
Pray a heart prayer, have learned the way 

To life more true and high. 

The boys who fight for right must feel 

Life's higher destiny, 
The boys who fight for womanhood 

Learn Christian chivalry. 

The boys who bravely climb the heights 

To meet the savage Hun, 
Will come with faith in God and right 

When freedom has been won. 

The boys who sing, when facing death 

Of mother and of Sue, 
The sweet old songs of home and love. 

Are men divinely true. 

The boys who, when they leave the trench 

To meet the Huns in fight. 
Sing, '*(jod our help in ages past,'' 

Will come with souls alight. 



54 



MADE SELFISH BY LOVE 

'You have three sons," I said, 
**You should spare two; 

They wish to join the ranks, 
Let them be true." 

'I love my sons too well. 

My fine young sons, 
To let them go to die 

Murdered by Huns." 






Thousands have gone," I said. 

Duty to do; 
Their mothers love their sons 
Tenderly, too." 

''They do not love their sons. 

As much as I 
Love mine. If mine were killed, 
Then I would die." 

" Their 's is a higher love 
Than yours can be; 
Service to God and man, 
Their love can see." 

"I'm knitting socks, and so 
I'm serving, too; 
That is enough for us, 
'Tis all we'll do." 



55 



*'You serve in your own way, 

But why restrain 
Your sons who clearly see 
Their duty plain?" 

Then spoke her eldest son. 
''Mother," said he 
"Knitting is not enough — 
Christ died for me. 

"All that He taught is now 

Threatened by Huns, 
Yet you refuse to let 
Your willing sons 

"Fight against despots base 
For God and right, 
For home, for truth, and peace 
With freedom's light. 

"I should be ready now 

To show that I 
Am willing in Christ's cause 
To bravely die. 

"Love without service dwarfs, 
It cannot bless; 
Love without sacrifice 
Is selfishness. 



56 



** Mothers who cannot see 
Upon the height 
God's guiding hand, have lost 
Love's glowing light. 

*'I am God's son, and man's — 
Not yours alone; 
I represent God here; 
I am my own., 

*'I am responsible 

To God for power 
He gave, which I should use 
In this great hour. 

''So mother, I must go. 

With coward's heart 
Life would be bitterness; 
I'll do my part. 

*'My brothers, too, intend 
To go with me 
To fight for you, and help 
To make men free. 

''If we come not again, 

Mother, to you, 
You will remember that 
Your sons were true.'' 



57 



CHRIST-LIKE MEN 

E'en some of those who stay at home, 
And do not dare for Christ to die, 

Speak of the soldier's wickedness, 

And shake their heads with tearful eye. 

0! base, ignoble, torpid souls, 

Unkindled minds with narrow view; 

Who doubt salvation for the men 

Who die for Christ as heroes true! 

The soldiers may not talk of Christ, 
But better far they try to do 

Their duty as true Christian men. 
Can this be said, vain men, of you? 

Christ left his home the world to save. 

The soldier sailed across the sea 
Away from home and friends, that he 

Might fight for Christ to make men free. 

Christ knew not where to lay His head 
When weary. So the soldier lies 

In trench or on the battlefield 

With face exposed to frowning skies. 

Christ suffered hunger for mankind. 

So the brave soldier suffers, too. 
From hunger through long days and nights 

To save your liberty for you. 

58 



Christ faced the mystery of death, 
And agonized for you and me; 

The soldier nobly faces death, 
And anguish of Gethsemane. 

Christ willingly laid down His life, 

That through His death all men may see 

The glory of His perfect love. 

And learn man's highest destiny. 

The soldiers, too, lay down their lives, 

As freely as on Calvary 
Christ died. They die in sacred cause 

For justice, right, and liberty. 

They live like Christ — ^like Christ they die. 

They loving service do for men. 
Their fellowship of suffering 

With Christ, will make them live again. 



59 



MORE DEGRADING THAN WAR 

When war is waged for selfish aims; 
Or settlement of rival claims; 
Or when ambition to be great 
Fills souls with bitterness and hate; 
Or when a despot ruthlessly 
Dares to destroy man's liberty; 
Then war is wrong, degrading, base, 
A monstrous crime against the race. 
But there are things in human life 
More base than even war's fierce strife. 

"When conscience-power has decayed ; 
When truth and justice are betrayed; 
When men lack moral force to fight 
Against aggression's frenzied might; 
When they have lost the vital force 
Impelling souls to nobler course; 
When they would barter right for peace, 
Though justice die and honor cease; 
Then souls have lost the guiding light 
That leads men upward to truth's height. 

Christ taught men to be true and strong 
To fight for right against the wrong, 
And yet base cravens dare to use 
His name, when they to fight refuse. 
When in religion's sacred name 
Objectors try to hide the shame 
Of coward hearts that will not fight 
For freedom, justice, home, and light. 
Such state of mind and heart is worse 
Than war their souls to blight and curse. 



60 



TRIUMPHANT DEMOCRACY 

I saw the German army 

Just as the war began. 
Three days I saw them marching 

To carry out the plan. 

Made through long years by selfish 

And savage despots who 
Planned to destroy man's freedom, 

And all that Christ made true. 

I saw the noble Belgians 

Who dared to block the way 
Against the fierce invaders 

Who sought the world to sway; 

Who scorned the Kaiser's offer 

To sell their souls for gold, 
And taught him that true freemen 

Can not be bought nor sold. 

I saw the gallant Frenchmen 

On guard along their line 
Roused by a valiant spirit 

Unknown beyond the Rhine. 

I saw their glance of valor 

In France's darkest days, 
And knew they'd die for honor 

Thrilled by the Marseillaise. 

61 



I saw the Gordons landing 

In France one epoch day, 
"When Scotch and French were comrades ; 

And worthy comrades they. 

They sang with Highland ardor, 
As they marched proudly past, 

*^0! God, be thou our helper 
Against the stormy blast." 

I saw the English gather 

In London for the fray, 
Ready to die for justice 

Calmly they marched aways 

Their country's call they answered. 

They saw their duty clear ; 
Grandly they proved the falseness 

Of the proud Kaiser's sneer. 

And Irishmen came gladly 

In freedom's sacred name 
To fight for King and Empire 

With Irish hearts aflame. 

Old enemies united. 

From North and South they came 
To stand or fall together 

With but a single aim. 



62 



I saw the first Canadians 
Train on Valvartier's field, 

And knew that, when their test came. 
No foe could make them yield. 

Forceful were they and fearless, 
Gentle, and kind, and true; 

Men of strong faith, went ready 
Great deeds for right to do. 

I saw the men responding 

In the United States, 
When called to drive the boastful 

Foemen from Freedom's gates. 

Intrepid men responded. 

Quickly they made reply. 
And never grander army 

Marched forth beneath the sky. 

Long years the struggle lasted. 

And in the bitter fight 
Democracy was tested 

Against despotic might; 

And Free men won, for Freedom 
Breeds vital, fearless sons, 

Resourceful, and strong-hearted 
To stand behind her guns. 



63 



CHRIST'S QUESTION 

What did you, in the world's dark hour 

To help mankind and me, 
When the Huns made the land a hell. 

And turned to hell the sea ? 
Did you go? 

What did you, when the Kaiser base 
Killed babes and mothers, too, 

In defiance of all my laws; 
Tell me, what did you do? 
Did you go? 

What did you, when your brave young son 

Said, father, let us fight 
For the freedom of all mankind. 

For home, and truth, and right? 
Did you go? 

No! your duty you did not do; 

You brought me only shame; 
Though I died for mankind, and you 

Have dared to use my name. 
You did not go. 

And you dwarfed your brave son's best power. 
When he was true to me : — 
From the blight that you brought to him. 
He never can be free. 

64 



UNSELFISH SOLDIERS 

When Satan sees a selfish man, 
He smiles and goes away, 
''He's mine," he says, ''I've got him sure; 
I do not need to stay. 

"And some who 'Christians' call themselves 

Amuse me most," said he, 
"They fear that soldiers' souls are lost; 

Themselves they cannot see. 

"Because their selfish souls are blind. 
The soldiers' little sins 
Give me but little claim on them, 
'Tis selfishness that wins. 

"The soldiers' souls I fear I've lost. 

They're free from selfishness; 
Each with his comrade shares his all, 
And fights, the world to bless. 

"Those selfish 'Christians' who just aim 
To save their own dark souls. 
But fail to serve their fellowmen; 
"When we have called the rolls, 

"Will be surprised to learn that they 
Must come along with me ; 
While soldiers take the other road, 
Who served unselfishly." 

65 



THE CHAPLAIN AT VIMY RIDGE 

''Your son was killed; we saw him die; 

He led our line." 
''He was God's boy," the chaplain said, 

"As well as mine." 

With dying men the chaplain prayed 

The long night through; 
Prayed as he never did before 

With power new. 

But, when he saw the opal glow 

Of dawning light, 
He went to find his only son 

Upon the height. 

With tenderness he carried back • 

His gallant boy; 
He wept although his heart was lit 

With vital joy. 

Around the grave his comrades stood. 

His father led 
In hopeful song and faith-lit prayer, 

And then he said: 

"I loved you, son — how I loved! 

God loved you, too; 
You are not dead; you still live on, 
But life is new. 



66 



**Your father's heart o'erflows today 
With loving pride; 
Christ died for you, my son, and you 
For Him have died. 

*'The flower that blooms in early morn, 

And dies ere noon, 
Lives truly its allotted time ; 
Dies not too soon. 

**Your life was short but beautiful, 
Your work is done; 
You nobly answered duty's call, 
And triumph won. 

*'God bless your mother, darling boy, 
Keep her heart strong; 
She knew that not alone to us 
Did you belong. 

^'1 will work on with deeper love 
For dying men; 
Your life and death will give me strength 
Goodbye ! Amen. ' ' 



67 



THE OLD GERMAN BIBLE 

Yes ! that old German Bible 

My father gave to me ; 
His father brought it with him 

To this land of the free. 

For many generations, 

More than four hundred years, 
Our family has kept it, 

And still our hearts it cheers. 

Grandfather's spirit led him 
To cross the great wide sea, 

That from despotic Prussians 
His soul might be set free. 

My husband died, and left me 
Four sons — good men are they, 

For I have tried to train them 
To walk life's upward way. 

We read the English Bible, 
But love the German, too. 

For it recalls the old days, 

"When German hearts were true 



To Christ and all His teaching 

Led by its sacred light ; 
The days, when German people 

Loved justice, truth, and right. 

Grandfather's vital spirit 
Still fills our souls, and we 

Despise despotic tyrants. 
And love true liberty. 

My four sons now are fighting 
To make the whole world free. 

God bless my boys, and guide them, 
And bring them back to me. 



SAVED 

Behind the lines near Arras 

We lived in ''dug-outs" deep. 

''Look here; don't light your matches. 
We're tired and want to sleep." 

So spoke my weary comrades 

In kindly threat to me; 
"Go back a mile and light them; 

Don't let the Germans see." 



69 



A letter from my sweetheart 

Had come from home that day; 

And so I rose and left them, 
And walked a mile away. 

I found an unused *' dug-out" 
And lit my matches there, 

To read the cheering message 
In which she wrote a prayer 

That I should be protected 

By day and night from harm. 

Then I went back still dreaming 
Of Jean's bewitching charm. 

But ere I reached the ''dug-out" 

A high explosive shell 
Had killed my sleeping comrades, 

And left me here to tell 

How death so nearly met me 
That sad October night ; 

And try to do my duty 

More bravely for the right. 



70 



THE PALSIED CONSCIENCE OF THE 
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR 

^'When a man says 'my conscience will not permit 
me to justify war, ' I reply you had better justify your 
conscience." — Chancellor Day, Syracuse University. 

Made by your lower self alone 
Your palsied conscience is your own; — 
Made by your basest selfishnses 
It has no power to guide or bless. 
You say your conscience will not let 
You fight for truth and freedom; yet 
You claim to be a Christian. Shame 
To so degrade Christ's sacred name. 
Christ taught us what to be and do 
To make the world more free and true 
Your conscience should give steady light 
To guide you upward to the height 
Where duty calls true men to fight 
For honor, justice, virtue, right, 
Against base despot's ruthless might. 

Your conscience robs your soul of power, 
And makes you useless in the hour 
When all Christ taught is threatened. Wake ! 
And do your part for His dear sake. 
Your conscience you have dwarfed, and so 
Its light has lost its guiding glow 
And faith has no directing zest. 
You stand unkindled and unblest 
Content in selfish ease to rest 

While Christ's men climb to reach the crest. 

71 



You fail the sunlit heights to see, 

"Where heroes fight to make men free. 

You know your mother, wife, and child 

May by vile despots be defiled. 

Yet will not do your duty clear. 

And fight for those you hold most dear. 

You ''cannot justify the war," 

Because you cannot see the star 

Of Bethlehem upon the sky. 

Set free your soul and let it fly 

Beyond your narrow selfish view 

To find a higher vision — ^new. 

Men grow who see with vision true 

And then their duty bravely do. 



WHY WE'RE FIGHTING 

We're fighting now that our young sons 

May never have to fight, 
As did their fathers for the cause 

Of liberty and right. 

We're fighting now so that the world 

May evermore be free 
From despots who would dare to rule 

By brutal tyranny. 

We're fighting now that fellowship 

And human brotherhood 
May ever be by all mankind 

More fully understood. 

72 



THE OLD BRITISH VETERAN 

Did you see his old eyes glisten 
When the soldiers marched away, 

As he proudly stood to listen 

To the band that autumn day? 

Did you hear him tell the story 

Of the day so long ago, 
When for England, home and glory, 
He marched off to meet the foe? 

Sixty years ago my mother 

Came to see her son depart, 
And beside her stood another 

Who had won my happy heart. 

And ''The Girl I Left Behind Me" 
That the band played loud and clear. 

Meant my Kate. My tears near blind me; 
For today she is not here. 

In old Devon she is sleeping, 

Close beside the rock-bound sea; 

You must just excuse my weeping, 
For so much comes back to me. 



73 



As I hear again the rattle 

Of the drumbeat call her sons, 

Yes! and grandsons to the battle, 
To defeat the savage Huns. 

When the war is o'er, I'll greet them 
Proudly if they are alive. 

Hopefully, I'll wait to meet them; 
God protect my valiant ^yb I 

They have gone for England's glory. 
Gallant five, across the sea. 

And I know they'll carve a story 
That will bring no shame to me. 

So, although my eyes are shedding 
Teardrops, they are grateful tears; 

In my heart there is no dreading. 
It is beating hopes, not fears. 



74 



iJ 



A TRUE HERO 

His life is full of horror, 
And yet his letters tell 

Of happiness, and end with — 
"Dear mother, I am well. 

He writes not of the trenches 
And how he suffers there. 

But of the flaming poppies 
Red blooming ev'rywhere. 

When he has been commended 
For duty nobly done 

He boasts not of his valor 
But tells about his fun. 



"When he was badly wounded 

He wrote, ''Don't worry, dear; 

I'm getting better, mother; 

Keep your heart full of cheer." 

He adds no pang of sorrow 

To her o'erburdened heart; 
He sees and tells the bright things. 

And this is life's great art. 

For there is always shadow, 

But always sunshine, too; 
And he is life's true artist 

Who paints the brightest view. 

75 



''YOU'RE DRAFTED" 

Let joy triumphant fill your heart. 
You're drafted; proudly do your part 
For home and country, truth and right, 
Against the ruthless tyrant's might. 
Go bravely! Do you duty clear. 
You're drafted. 

For God and liberty you go 
To fight against their basest foe. 
Humanity's most sacred laws 
He violates. Awake ! The cause 
Of justice claims you. Do not fear. 
But answer with a ringing cheer; 
You're drafted. 

Of freedom get a vision new; 
Of duty see the larger view; 
"With soul aflame with fervid glow 
For freedom, honor, virtue go; 
Save all that noble men hold dear; 
Let your heart's echo be a cheer; 
You're drafted. 

Democracy relies on you, 

Your manhood prove. Be strong and true. 

Fail not ! To God and man be just. 

Your country trusts; accept its trust. 

"With faith and hope its loud call hear. 

Yours is no coward heart — so cheer. 

You're drafted. 
76 



SABBATH SERVICES 

The church was large; the cure 

Stood near the altar there, 
That sunny Sabbath morning, 

And led his flock in prayer. 

Old men were they who worshipped, 

The young had gone to fight 
In service of the Master 

To guard His holy light. 

Behind them busy workmen 

Of "army service" were 
Repairing broken harness, 

Who listened to the prayer. 

Was it not desecration 

Upon the Sabbath day 
To make God's house a workshop, 

While men had come to pray? 

Both services were sacred. 

Some worked while others prayed. 
Both the great law of service 

Revealed by Christ, obeyed. 

No day can be too sacred 

To work for His great cause; 
For freedom and humanity. 

For just and righteous laws. 

77 



HAS CHRISTIANITY FAILED? 

The atheist sneered, as he heard the chime 

Of bells in the churches at Easter time ; 

''Poor weaklings," he said, ''are the men who say 

That Christ is a force in the world today. 

Christ taught a religion of love and peace. 

And Christians have taught that all war should cease, 

But hate over love has at length prevailed, 

The world is at war, Christianity failed." 

Should Christians be cowards, and tamely yield, 
Or fight for the freedom that Christ revealed? 
Should Christians be cravens, when neighbors bleed, 
Or go to their aid in their hour of need ? 
The work of the Saviour is not yet done, 
More triumphs must still in His Name be won; 
But only the thoughtless believe that He 
Has failed in the struggle to make men free. 

Democracy, based on the truths Christ taught, 
Has widened the vision of human thought. 
And driven the despots from height to height. 
Who taught the false doctrine that might is right. 
Each glorious century since He came, 
The light that He kindled has brighter flame. 
And shines on new crests, as men upward climb, 
Inspired by His life and His love sublime. 

78 



The cry of brave Belgium was loud and sad ; 
The Germans had come, and with carnage mad 
Defying all laws the relentless horde 
Swept onward destroying with fire and sword. 
They ravaged her land with a savage rage, 
They murdered in frenzy both youth and age, 
The homes of the innocent peasants blazed, 
The temples of God were in fierce wrath razed. 

If men in the day of their test had quailed, 

The skeptic might sneer, and say "Christ has failed,'' 

But Christians were true, and they rushed to meet 

The despot, and drive him to sure defeat ; 

They came with relief to the starving child, 

They lifted the maiden base beasts defiled, 

They answered a nation's appealing wail. 

With love, and with service— THEY DID NOT FAIL. 



79 



THE GHOSTS OF 1776 

Ghosts used to go around at night, 
Till twelve o'clock, and then 

They spread their gauzy wings, and went 
Back to their graves again. 

But modern ghosts, like men themselves, 
Have wondrous progress made. 

They see, unseen, by day or night, 
In sunshine or in shade. 

Two ghosts of sev'nteen sev'nty-six 

Came out one April day. 
And sailed across the briny deep 

To Europe far away. 

They flew along the ''Western front" 
And were surprised to see 

''Old Glory" and the "Tricolor" 
Together o'er the sea. 

"They floated in America 

Together once, ' ' said one ; 
"The French with us fought gloriously 

When we our freedom won." 

"They fight again for freedom," said 

The other, "for I know 
Where tyrants threaten liberty. 

Those flags will ever go." 
80 



Then as they farther went they saw 

High flying side by side 
The British, French, and U. S. flags. 

Thank God! Thank God!" they cried. 



< < I 



'* Hurrah! Hurrah! the world is safe 

Old enemies unite 
To save democracy, and crush 

The savage despot's might. 

"When we get back with joy we'll tell 

"What we today have seen, 

And Washington, and La Fayette, 

And Pitt with joyous mien, 

"Will lead us all in singing 
Hosanas for the light 
That leads the freedom lovers 
To battle for the right. 

"And Burns and Whitman then will read 

Their songs of liberty. 
And we will form a ring and shout, 
*The world will happy be.' 

"And German ghosts will take our hands 

And sing and shout with glee, 
And say 'Thank God the war has made 
The German people free.' " 



81 



**MY OWN" COUNTRY 

**I will not fight across the sea 
To settle quarrels there, 

But, if on my own country's soil 
A foreign foe should dare 

To step, then I would follow thee, 

0! sacred banner of the free." 

! narrow, dormant, torpid soul, 

From selfishness awake. 
Christ died for you, and you should do 

Your duty for His sake; 
And help to save democracy, 
Or your own land will not be free. 

Your morals, sir, are very low 
Based on your selfishness; 

Your life was given on the terms 
That you would help to bless 

All other lives. Remember then 

Christ taught the brotherhood of men. 

Your logic, too, is very poor, 
It means that you should fight, 

Not for your country nor for state. 
But just for your own right. 

He dwarfs his soul who lives alone 

For self — whose motto is ''my own." 
82 



THE PLATITUDINOUS PACIFISTS 



"But war can never make men free, 
War will destroy democracy." 

Whenever ruthless despot fights 

Against man's democratic rights 

One way alone is left to save 

Democracy. We must be brave 

And fight for justice, freedom, right 

Till we destroy his boasted might. 

Since Christ revealed democracy. 

And taught that each man should be free. 

Base despots daring to control 

Man's body, intellect and soul 

Have fought against His loving plan ; — 

The perfect brotherhood of man. 

In wars by tyranny begun 

Democracy has ever won; 

Each war found freemen true and strong 

To fight for right against the wrong; 

Each war brought higher vision, when 

The world regained just peace again. 

He must not win whose poisoned mind 

Planned the enslavement of mankind; 

The dastard tyrant of all time 

Whose war of treachery and crime 

Against democracy and right 

Threatened all freedom by his might, 

He must be taught that freemen still 

Have power to break his despot will. 

83 



Ours is not war of rival kings. 

We fight to save life's sacred things — 

Truth, justice, honor and the right 

To grow in freedom towards the light. 

The sweetest echoes of past years 

Are echoes of resounding cheers. 

When chains were broken, men made free. 

And deeper love of liberty 

Was kindled in men's souls to be 

New power in true democracy. 

So we must fight till joyous cheers 

Proclaim to all the coming years 

The final triumph of the right 

O'er savage hate and despot might. 

II 

*'We should have stopped the war by thought," 

He said. "High thinking would have brought 

True peace without the loss of life — 

Without producing fierce world strife." 

''A ship's load sailed two years ago," 

I said, ''to end this dreadful woe 

Of war by hopeful thoughts of peace. 

They thought kind thoughts. War did not cease.' 

All thoughtful people sadly smiled. 

While thoughtless pacifists reviled 

The men who bravely dared to fight 

To save the world from despot might. 

A rabid dog with maddened brain 
Will not be peaceful till he's slain. 
If one in frenzy tried to kill 

84 



Your child, would you sit weakly still, 
And call him ''doggy, dear," and say 
''Kind doggy, pause and drive away 
The fierce, wild dreams that make you mad, 
The world is happy, so be glad"? 
However peaceful, gentle, mild. 
You'd kill the dog and save your child. 
So must we conquer tyranny 
That men forever may be free. 

Ill 

"I hate all war. It can't be right 
That men should ever have to fight. ' * 

I, too, love peace and hate fierce war, 
But with more vital force by far 
I love the light of liberty. 
And hate the bonds of tyranny. 
Peace may be purchased at the cost 
Of freedom, justice, honor lost. 
I love the joy song of the free; 
The spirit of democracy; 
The right of independent mind; 
The right of justice for mankind; 
The right to join in common cause 
With others making freemen's laws; 
The right to be, and think, and do 
What vision tells my soul is true. 
These are life's greatest things, and I 
For them should live, for them should die, 
If need be, fighting for the right 
Against imperious despot's might. 



85 



When tyrants dare to take from me 
My freedom, then no peace can be. 
Christ came not to send peace, but war 
Against all wrong, and still His star 
Leads to the crest towards which men climb 
Who strive to make all life sublime. 
Men are base traitors to the right 
Who for true freedom will not fight, 
Till despots from agression cease, 
And brotherhood brings lasting peace. 



86 



A WEAK APOLOGY. 

^' Don't blame the German soldiers for 
Their crimes of deepest shame 

Against fair woman and sweet child, 
For they are not to blame. 

*' Their officers commanded them 

To slaughter or be slain; 
Their brutal leaders drove them on, 
To them belongs the blame." 

No ! Their revolting deeds declare 
The vileness of the Hun; 
None but the foulest savages 

Could do what they have done. 

What would a British soldier lad. 
Or gallant Frenchman, true 

Or chivalrous American, 
Or young Canadian do? 

Or valiant son of Italy? 

Each one with flashing eye 
Would answer, ' ' No ! Take back at once 

Your base command, or die." 



87 



FRENZIED FREEDOM 

0, blind, insensate, frenzied men 
Who boastfully proclaim 

Your love of freedom, but degrade 
True freedom's sacred name! 

0, incoherent pacifists 

Who with fantastic aim 
Would basely yield to tyranny, 

And freedom bring to shame ! 

0, men who do not wish to fight! 
Your consciences you made 
By your delirious selfishness. 
And peace you have betrayed. 

You are the frenzied enemies 
Of freedom and of peace; 

You chatter nonsense, while men fight 
And die that war may cease. 

They fight for all the highest things 
That Christ revealed, while you 

Rave wildly about Freedom's cause, 
And dream, but dare not do. 

With senseless drivel you abuse 
The men who fight for you, 

And all the sacred principles 

To which you should be true. 

88 



Yet say no word against the Huns 
Who claim that ''might is right" 

Who sneer at human brotherhood, 
And hate true freedom's light. 

You are the world's chief charlatans, 
Its frantic, mad buffoons; 

You are the flighty, babbling babes 
Who try to grasp life's moons. 



S9 



A LOYAL GERMAN 

A loyal German orator 

To Germans said, ''Let's understand 
Why Germans should be loyal men. 

Why did you leave the Fatherland ? 

*'You left it to escape the yoke 
Of despot Prussian tyranny, 

And to America you came 

Where men are men, to be made free. 

''Beneath that flag — Old Glory — you 

A home, and wealth, and justice found ; 

Your children sing 'America', 

This land to you is sacred ground. 

"Why should you not be loyal men? 

Each thread of that grand banner there, 
Is dear to honest German hearts; 

Be honest men and do your share. 

"Trust not the Prussian hirelings, who 
Would shake your loyalty to right. 

But tell them you have learned to see 
The glory of true freedom's light, 

"And fight for freedom for your friends 
Who in the Fatherland may be; 

Fight with the brave Americans 

Who fight to make all Germans free." 

90 



A DISLOYAL GERMAN 

Outraged by German despotism 

A German sought democracy; 
And settled in a western state, 

When first he came from Germany. 

He settled on free land and breathed 
Free air on freedom's soil till he 

Grew rich ; and told his neighbors how 
He loved America the free. 

He boasted, too, that when he came 
One dollar to New York he brought, 

And made a million by his thrift. 

When war broke out he basely taught 

That Germany should rule the world. 

For she was so efficient, she 
Should teach mankind efficiency. 

And Kultur spread that men might see. 

When Congress passed the law of draft, 
And said each man must do his share 

For home, and liberty, and right. 

He raged, and said '*no man shall dare 

*^To take my sons away to fight 
Against my dear old Fatherland; 

The act of Congress I defy. 

And on my rights a freeman stand." 

91 



He cursed the Stars and Stripes, and said, 

*'If any officer comes here 
To take my sons, 111 shoot him down, 
I'll show the Yanks I have no fear." 

Next day he was not quite so bold. 

And summoned by the court he went. 

The judge spoke sternly of his crime, 
And threatened prison punishment. 

He meekly begged forgiveness then. 
And asked for mercy from the state; 

The judge was kind to him, and said, 

"Though your offence has been so great 

'*I'll let you off this time, but if 

You ever say one word again 
Against our flag, our laws, our land. 

Where you have made your wealth, why then 

'*! will deport you. At New York 

You'll get the dollar that you brought; 

Your million we will confiscate 

For Red Cross work. You must be taught 

"Your duty. Under our free flag. 

Protected by our nation's laws. 
You have enjoyed a freeman's rights; 

Go and be true to freedom's cause." 



92 



LIFE'S VITAL POWER 

The battlefield has many scars, 
But life has vital power and so 

New branches spring from broken trunks; 
New leaves on shattered branches grow. 

The nesting birds hatch out their broods 
In grave-like shell holes, where today 

They sing their songs in lovely bowers 
Of poppies red in bright array. 

For Nature scorns the tyrant's powers. 

Vaim are his efforts to destroy; 
She heals his scars, and soon again 

Earth's beauty springs to give us joy. 

Though some have feared that faith was dead, 
And that no more its light would shine; 

Through sacrifice and service, faith 
Has grown in beauty more divine, 

And consciously gives human souls 

The vital power of God to do 
The duty he reveals to each. 

If life be pure, unselfish, true. 

So from the despot's ruthless war 
True freedom will in beauty grow 

O'er all the earth, till brotherhood 
In human hearts will ever grow. 



93 



TELL THEIR GREAT DEEDS 

Stories of dauntless heroes 

Dying for liberty, 
Winning for truth and honor 

Triumphant victory; 
Tell these great stories ever; 
We should forget them, never. 

Heroes of Balaclava, 

Heroes of Waterloo, 
Heroes who saved St. Julien, 

Fearless were they, and true, 
Tell their great deeds forever; 
We should forget them never. 

Heroes who won at Vimy, 
Heroes of Paschendale, 

Heroes who died at Locre 
That freedom might prevail. 

Tell their great deeds forever; 

We should forget them never. 

What shall the coming ages 
In story tell of you? 

Honor, and faith, and freedom 
Impel you to be true. 

You must record your story, 

Either of shame or glory. 

94 



Never was freedom threatened 
As now by despot power, 

Never was duty clearer, 

Now is your testing hour. 

You must record your story, 

Shall it be shame or glory? 

Duty to home and empire, 

Duty to liberty, 
Call you to valiant action; 

What will your answer be? 
You must record your story. 
Shall it be shame or glory? 

Civilization weeping 

For Belgium ^s heart that bleeds, 
Calls in the name of mercy: 

^'Wake and do noble deeds!" 
Wide are the gates of glory, 
Enter! Eecord your story. 



95 



LOVE AND HATE 

**God Curse England*' — German Prayer 

You poison the springs that should ever flow 
To aid the bright flowers of peace to grow; 
You teach little children in school to pray 
That curses may blight, and that wrath may slay; 
You plant in the soil of their young hearts seeds 
Of baneful, destructive and deadly weeds; 
You rob them of vision of higher view; 
You wither their power to be pure and true; 
You turn them away from love's garden gate, 
And chill their warm blood with your hiss of hate, 
But back o'er your land all your curse clouds roll 
To darken and shrivel your nation's soul. 

You savagely boasted your brutal might, 

And scornfully sneered when men spoke of right; 

Kefused to be true to the pledge you signed, 

And jeered at the nations a bond could bind; 

Defying humanity's moral laws. 

You murdered the helpless without a cause; 

You secretly tried an infamous plan 

To sow deadly strife between man and man; 

Your foul plots miscarried, perfidy failed ; 

The nations awoke and the right prevailed. 

Now, facing in terror, avenging fate, 

You shriek in your fury the curse of hate. 

96 



We heed not your curses. We know God hears 
The cry of the nation whose bitter tears 
Flow out from the heart that in anguish bleeds 
Because of your merciless, ruthless deeds. 
Brave Belgium's blessing of prayer and praise 
The curse of your venomous hate outweighs. 
We sprang to her aid with our souls aflame 
To save from dishonor old England's name. 
Peace lovers are we, but true Britons fight 
When freedom is threatened by despot might. 
We hate not your nation. We fight that we 
May aid in the struggle to make men free. 

For all that you did in your brilliant past 
We thank you, but mourn that, misled at last, 
You sullied the fame of your noble state, 
And shadowed your soul with the curse of hate. 
Base, selfish ambition has made you blind. 
Has narrowed your vision and warped your mind. 
We hope you will learn, when the strife is o'er, 
That all war is evil, and fight no more; 
That hate is a monster whose fatal breath 
Bears ever a message of gloom and death; 
That love is the highest power man can know 
To start the divine in his life to grow. 



97 



LIFE AND DEATH 

Some count their lives by days and years; 

True life is what we do 
To dry the founts of human tears, 

And lead to higher view. 

Death is but life at rest awhile 

After the day is o'er, 
Awaiting with a tranquil smile 

The morn to work some more. 



MYSTERY AND GLORY 

There is mystery and glory 

In young life's untimely end, 

But we'll understand the story, 

And our tears and smiles will blend. 

For the mystery will leave us, 
As the sadness disappears; 

And its pain will cease to grieve us 
In the sorrow-healing years. 

Then the glory and the beauty 
Of the life that once was ours. 

Will guide us to higher duty 

And to more triumphant powers. 

98 



COMRADE FATHERS OF HEROIC SONS 

Fathers of noble sons are we — 
Heroes who died for liberty; 
Sons who to us will ever be 
Living in loving memory. 

Glad they were men whose hearts were true, 
Proudly we saw them go to do 
Duty for home and country, too ; 
Duty for right with vision new. 

Sons such as ours brought no sad tears, 
Lives such as theirs ne 'er gave us fears ; 
Deep in our hearts through coming years 
Grandly will ring their parting cheers. 



THE SOLDIER'S WILL 

His metal disc was in his hand, 

Where on the field he fell, 
And on it they could read the words, 
Give all I own to Nell, 



ii. 



My wife." He had not made a will, 

But when the bullet brought 

His sentence; of his wife and home 

The dying soldier thought. 

With knife upon his disc he scratched 

The will that gave his wife 
And babies all that he had owned; — 

The last act of his life. 

99 



CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES 
One Hundred Years After Lundy's Lane 

Bravely they fought that day, 

Red coats and blue ; 
Fiercely they fought that night 

Gallant and true. 

Under this mound they lie 

Side by side still, 
Men who died foot to foot 

Here on the hill. 

Standing beside their graves 

Weeping no tears. 
Grateful are we for peace 

A hundred years. 

Furled are our battle flags. 

Old issues dead, 
Heart-free are we from hate, 

Love rules instead. 

Here on the battlefield 

Hand clasping hand 
Pledge we to work for peace 

In ev'ry land. 

100 



PATE AT THE FRONT 



Two officers upon a hill 

Were standing side by side; 
A shell brought death-burst to their feet ; — 

One lived, the other died. 

II 

*'Good bye, old boy," a comrade said, 

One day upon the road; 
''I'm going home to Canada, 

This is my final load." 

He shouted after he had passed, 
Good luck, old chum," he said; 

A shell screamed o'er my head, and he 
And his two mules lay dead. 

Ill 

When near his hut one evening 

Killed by a German shell. 
The last they fired that fatal day, 

A young lieutenant fell. 

A sentry stopped him on his way 

With good intent to say, 
''Do not go home, sir, by the road, 

They're shelling there today." 

101 



Had he gone on without delay 
The German shell would not 

Have harmed him, but the sentry stood 
Right at the fatal spot; 

And in an instant both were killed, 
Though neither was to blame; 

Because to save the officer 
The watchful sentry came. 

**'Tis fate," the soldiers say, but not 
The fate that robs of power, 

And trusting faith, and valiant deed 
In duty's vital hour. 

Not heathen fate, but Christian fate, 

That shines with hopeful, light; 
That leads to self-forgetfulness 
. Which dares to fight for right. 



102 



HIS UNFINISHED STORY 

I cannot know the story 

Of what you might have done; 
I can but dream of honors 

You would have earned, dear son. 

But I shall keep the record 
Of how you did your part 

True to your highest, ever 
Deep in my happy heart. 

Beauty of dawn and sunset, 

Glory of sky and sea, 
Grandness of star and mountain, 

Will bring you back to me. 

Often in woodland pathway 
Beside me you will stand 

Tranquil and true, and tell me 
Of work that you had planned. 

And life will aye be sweeter, 

Hope be more strong and clear. 

Faith more serene and vital, 
Because I feel you near. 



103 



CHESTER 

He was the wind from the hillside, 
Bringing the balsam's perfume; 

He was the dawn of the morning, 
Clearing the mist-clouds of gloom. 

He was the rock-bounded streamlet, 
Leaping in glee through the glen; 

He was the wide-flowing river, 
Bearing rare treasures to men. 

He was the sun of the Summer, 
Giving new growth in the field; 

He was the harvest of Autumn, 
Rich in its bountiful yield. 

He was the arms of the hemlock, 
Waking enchantment in me; 

He was the crimson-toned maple; 
He was the wave-crested sea. 

He was the afterglow glory, 
Ending the day with delight; 

He was the moon's wondrous magic; 
He was the star-shine of night. 

He was the flower of the Springtime; 

He was the pine's mystic tune; 
He was the spirit of Nature, 

Singing its joy-song in June. 

104 



So through the years will the streamlet, 

River and wave-crested sea, 
Dawnlight and sunshine and eve-glow. 

Star gleam and flower and tree, 
Bird song, and growth time, and wind breath, 

Whisper his sweetness to me. 



OUR MEMORIES 

Not as a soldier grim. 

But as a happy boy 
Will we remember him. 

Radiant with each new joy. 

Not as a soldier grim, 

But as a winsome youth 

Will we remember him. 

Clear-eyed and loving truth. 

Not as a soldier grim, 
But as a man upright 

Will we remember him. 

Glowing with hopeful light. 

Yet — though our eyes be dim — 
Earnest and true and brave 

Will we remember him. 

Fighting life's best to save. 



105 



MY VALIANT SON 

For my dead son so dear 
I shed a father's tear, 
But in my heart I cheer, 

Though eyes be dim. 
True-hearted, strong and free, 
A just, kind man was he, 
A loving son to me. 

Why mourn for him? 

When duty's loud call came, 
He went with heart aflame. 
And won an honored name; 

My valiant son. 
Had I more sons, they, too, 
Would be, I know, as true, 
And their whole duty do. 

Till freedom won. 

His place I cannot take. 
But for my dead son's sake 
New efforts I will make 

For home and right. 
No garb of mourning sad 
I'll wear. My heart is glad 
A son so true I had 

To nobly fight. 



106 



Proudly I saw him go, 
With his youth life aglow, 
To meet the ruthless foe, 

With hope and joy. 
Mine will be joyous tears, 
Mine will be grateful cheers, 
Through all the coming years, 

For my brave boy. 



DEAD! 

Life's supremest shock of sadness 
Dims my eyes with loving tears, 

But I know that glowing gladness 
Will be mine throughout the years. 

Never shadow came nor sorrow 

From my happy-hearted boy. 
So through all the great tomorrow 

Memory will bring me joy: 

Joy of honest, manly doing, 

Joy of service for his friend, 
Joy of upward path pursuing. 

Till he reached life's noble end. 

Doing bravely sacred duty 

For the right and liberty. 
How could death have grander beauty? 

More triumphant dignity? 

107 



TO MY ONLY SON 

Freedom and honor called you, 
Nobly you made reply; 

For right and truth and justice 
Bravely you went to die. 

You chose the life of service, 
Chose it yourself alone, 

And made the path of duty 
To God and man your own. 

Killed on the field of battle 
Yonder across the sea. 

Dear son, I'll ever keep you 
Fondly in memory. 

Boyhood of loving kinship, 
Youth of unfolding might. 

Manhood of faithful service. 
You made all life more bright. 

Comrade, I longed to know you 
Till you were old and gray. 

That I might watch your progress 
Along life's upward way; 

That I might keep the record 
Of life so well begun, 

And share with you the uplift 
Of triumphs you had won. 
108 



I shall dream on, beloved, 

Of deeds you might have done; 

Dream as I climb life's hillside 
To see the setting sun; 

Climbing with clearer vision, 
And step more light and strong; 

Singing because I knew you 
A sweeter, grander song. 



109 



SORROW AND JOY 

Oh, yes! I'm sorry he was killed, 

My brave, my only son; 
But I am glad his life was filled 

With man's work nobly done. 

I'm sad because he died so soon. 

But glad he lived so long. 
His heart with purpose high in tune, 

His soul serene and strong. 

Regret oft drives its poisoned dart 

Into my breast, but then 
I think how well he did his part 

And I rejoice again. 

The shadow of his loss I see; 

Sometimes the clouds hang low. 
But then his life light shines in me, 

And sets my heart aglow. 

I '11 smile, though loving tears may fall 

As pass the coming years; 
He heard and answered duty's call; — 

Mine are exultant tears. 



110 



HIS LAST LETTER 

Dated the day before 
My brave son fell, 

Ere the dread cable said, 
''Killed by a shell.'' 

Surely it must have come 
Straight from his tomb. 

Message of love and light 
To break the gloom. 






Written two weeks ago 
Somewhere" it said; 
Living and working hard," 
Now he is dead. 

Manly his hopeful words 

Full of good cheer; 
Tender his thoughts of home, 

Home ever dear. 

One note of sadness told 

His heart was sore; 
"Baker, my chum, is blind — 

He fights no more." 

Message of faith and hope 

Last from my son! 
He lies across the sea — 

Life's work well done. 



Ill 



MARS AND VENUS 

The spirit of Mars on the earth looked down; 

Mankind I control, he said, 
The world is at war, and men's hearts are minej 

The spirit of love is dead. 
Hate rules! I am king! At my feet men kneel, 
And worship the power of my bloody steel. 

The spirit of Venus replied : False god, 

The hearts of mankind are mine. 
The clouds of your hate will soon pass, and then 

The sun of my love will shine. 
The hearts that you darkened will light again, 
And glow with true love for their fellowmen. 

Brave men are at war for the love of right; 

To freedom and justice true 
They fight to prevent the appalling crimes 

Of despots who worship you. 
Love rules! I am queen! Your malignant dream 
Is ended, and love is enthroned supreme. 



112 



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